Real Madrid to face Benfica in Champions League play-off: squad news and compilations | Soccer News

WHO: Benfica vs Real Madrid
What: UEFA Champions League
Where: Luz Stadium, Lisbon, Portugal
When: Tuesday 17 February at 21:00 (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport has live text and photo coverage of the Benfica vs Real Madrid first leg playoff.

The playoff phase of this season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) kicks off on Tuesday with some of Europe’s biggest names facing a crunch two-legged knockout series – none bigger perhaps than manager Jose Mourinho leading Benfica against his former club Real Madrid.

The two teams already have recent history in this year’s competition: on January 28, Benfica beat the Spanish giants in dramatic fashion with a header in the final minute, marking the Portuguese side’s place in the play-offs.

The catastrophic defeat for Real meant they slipped out of the automatic qualifying positions for the round of 16 and were forced into the extra knockout stage.

Al Jazeera Sport looks at a match that has so much drive, including a little personal pride for one of Real’s most successful coaches.

What happened the last time Real Madrid played Benfica?

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a stunning header in the 98th minute Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 to keep themselves in the Champions League and deny their illustrious rivals automatic entry to the next round.

In an extraordinary final to the league stage, the Portuguese side ⁠came out of the competition despite leading 3-2 with seconds remaining before Trubin emerged from a free-kick to score the goal needed to sneak into the play-offs on goal difference.

This sparked wild celebrations from Benfica players, fans and their charismatic coach Mourinho in Lisbon.

Los Blancos had hoped to avoid the play-offs, but their 15 points from eight games were not enough, and Real ended the game with nine men as Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off.

In a final twist, Madrid were handed a tough Champions League play-off against Benfica, the very team that took them through to the play-offs.

What did Mbappe say after losing to Benfica?

Madrid star forward Kylian Mbappe questioning the team’s desire after the upset defeat to Benfica and said the star-studded side “deserve” to be in their current situation because they have not been consistent enough to secure an automatic qualification spot.

“The problem is we are not consistent in our game. We have to fix that. You can’t have one day (playing well) and another, a champion team doesn’t do that,” Mbappe told reporters.

“We deserve to be in this situation. Benfica was better. Now we have to play two more play-offs. It hurts to have to play them. We wanted time in February to work on our game.”

Mbappe said he could not put his finger on a clear reason why Madrid played so poorly against Benfica on January 28.

“I think it’s a bit of everything. I can’t tell you it’s just a matter of attitude, because if I just say that, you’ll think we came here without any desire,” said the French superstar, who scored twice in the defeat.

UCL win against Real Madrid sealed Benfica’s recent revival

Benfica were mired in the bottom 12 of the UCL ladder, leading to elimination from the competition, until their last-gasp fourth through Trubin improved their goal difference to move them into the play-off places.

The two-time winners’ remarkable recovery to claim a play-off spot – they finished 24th in the 36-team league stage, the last qualifying spot – was capped not only by the loss to Real, but by winning three of their last four games after losing their first four.

When was Jose Mourinho manager of Real Madrid?

The former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester United manager was in charge at Real for three seasons following his appointment in May 2010.

This followed great success at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan, where he won the Champions League with the former and the latter, while also securing a first top-flight title for Chelsea in 40 years.

Mourinho, 63, only took over at Benfica in September, replacing Bruno Lage as manager after a slow start to the season.

What was Mourinho’s record at Real Madrid, and what did he win?

Mourinho finished second to Barcelona in his first season in charge, despite Cristiano Ronaldo topping the La Liga scorecards with 40 goals that season.

Lionel Messi hit 50 goals the following season, but it was Real’s Portuguese pair who emerged smiling with Real’s first league title in three years – Barca claimed the crown in each of those seasons.

Mourinho’s tenure at the Bernabeu came to an end the following season as Barcelona won the title by 15 points. This remains the largest margin of victory in the competition’s history.

How many times have Real Madrid and Benfica won the UEFA Champions League?

Real are the record winners of Europe’s premier club competition with 15 titles to their name, the last coming in 2024.

Benfica have lifted the trophy on two occasions, both coming in consecutive years.

In what was considered Benfica’s golden era, Portuguese legend Eusebio helped the team win against Barcelona in 1961 and Real Madrid in 1962.

A hat-trick from Hungary’s best performer, Ferenc Puskas, failed to save Real, with Benfica claiming a 5-3 victory that included a double from Eusebio.

Head-to-head

Remarkably, this is only the fifth meeting between two of the biggest clubs from Spain and Portugal.

Benfica won the games 3-1, with the first meeting between the clubs coming in the final in May 1962.

Benfica team news

Benfica’s attack, which caused so many problems in their last game against Madrid, is close to full strength, with Vangelis Pavlidis ready to lead the way and Norway international Andreas Schjelderup, who put two past Los Blancos on January 28, ready to play.

Mourinho will be without key midfielder Fredrik Aursnes, who is sidelined with injury.

Alexander Bah (knee), Samuel Soares (muscle strain) and Joao Veloso (shoulder) all remain doubts for the first leg against Madrid.

Benfica predicted starting line-up (4-2-3-1)

Trubin (GK); Dedic, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl; Barreiro, Barrenechea; Prestianni, Schjelderup, Sudakov; Pavlidis

Real Madrid team news

Mbappe is set to return for Real Madrid’s play-off clash with Benfica after starting this weekend’s La Liga game against Real Sociedad.

The availability of the team’s top scorer and best player this season is excellent news for coach Alvaro Arbeloa, but it raises the question of whether Los Blancos lose too much balance when both he and Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior combine in attack.

This problem is further aggravated when Jude Bellingham is also available, but the English player is injured (leg) and will not play against Mourinho’s team in Lisbon.

Madrid will be without two starters, Asencio and Rodrygo, who are suspended as a result of their last Champions League match against Benfica in the final of the league stage.

Eder Militao will join Bellingham on the sidelines as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

Real Madrid predicted starting line-up (4-2-3-1)

Courtois (GK); Carreras, Huijsen, Rudiger, Alexander-Arnold; Camavinga, Tchouameni; Valverde, Vinicius, Guler; Mbappe

When will the Champions League knockouts and final be played?

The two legs of the round of 16 will be played on March 10-11 and March 17-18.

After the quarter-finals and semi-finals, the final of this season’s Champions League will take place in the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary. The match will be played on May 30.